Listeriosis outbreak traced to Enterprise food factory

The Department of Health has confirmed the source of the listeriosis outbreak in South Africa was traced to an Enterprise food factory in Polokwane, Limpopo. Minister of Health Aaron Motsoaledi made this announcement yesterday – Sunday, 4 February.

It was found that listeria monocytogenes (pathogenic bacteria responsible for causing listeriosis) were present in ready-to-eat processed meats products at an Enterprise facility in Germiston, Gauteng. Polony was a definite culprit according to Motsoaledi.

THE SOURCE OF THE PRESENT OUTBREAK CAN BE CONFIRMED TO BE THE ENTERPRISE FOOD-PRODUCTION FACILITY IN POLOKWANE. The results show that ready-to-eat processed meat products from Enterprise facility located in Germiston contain L. monocytogenes, the sequence type is not known